No. 26Helen tells Todd that her heart sank when she saw him standing at the door with those policemen. Todd insists that he thought he was taking back his own property, but Helen snaps at him that he can't steal another boy's runners just because that boy stole his. Jim arrives home at that moment. Todd tries to disappear, but Helen stops him and tells him that he has to talk to his uncle. Todd explains reluctantly to Jim about how the police caught him trying to steal back his runners. Jim growls:

JIM: Hasn't a single word I've told you sunk in, for Pete's sake?

He asks what the police are planning to do, and Todd admits that they're probably going to charge him. Jim snaps that he bets the *other* boy isn't on a good- behaviour bond; Todd could find himself in a boys' home.

No. 32Joe opens the front door to Dorothy, and invites her in. She tells him that wanted to see him just for a moment. Joe says he's a bit nervy about court tomorrow. Dorothy hands him an envelope and explains that it's a character reference. Joe, looking taken aback, tells her that he really appreciates her thinking of them like this.

No. 26In the kitchen, Jim is ranting at Helen that he never had this problem with Paul and Scott. Helen asks him if he doesn't think *Josh* might have had an influence on Todd. Jim just sighs that he'd better ring Annette and let her know what's happening. Paul comes in through the back door at that moment and tells his father that he needs to talk to him about a few things. Helen explains to her grandson that this isn't the right time, and explains about Todd. Helen heads off to see Dorothy. Jim goes on at Paul in frustration that it's like nothing he's ever said to Todd has ever sunk in; it's one thing after another. Paul tries to start telling him about Christina, but can't get a word in edgeways!

No. 30Helen has turned up at No. 30, but Ryan tells her that Dorothy isn't there. Helen comments that she was hoping to have a chat. Ryan mutters that his aunt hasn't been very chatty over the past couple of days; she's probably had another tiff with her boyfriend or something. Helen asks in surprise if Dorothy has been out with John Brice again since she turned down his proposal. A look of shock crosses Ryan's face briefly. He then recovers and remarks that John must have felt pretty weak when his aunt said no. They sit down at the kitchen table and Helen shrugs that Dorothy didn't have much choice, did she? She asks Ryan if he remembers Dorothy's husband. Ryan replies that he doesn't know anything about him. Helen comments that the situation obviously still irritates her; she had no idea Dorothy was still married. A further look of shock crosses Ryan's face. Helen heads off.

No. 28Cody rushes into the house and asks her mother if Todd has been looking for her. Pam replies that she hasn't seen him. Cody thanks her, dumps her schoolbag and rushes out again! Pam suddenly sniffs and turns up her nose. She looks at Cody's bag and then starts going through it. She takes out various items, including a mouldy banana skin(!)… and then a packet of condoms. Looking shocked, she calls to Doug, who emerges from the bedroom area. She holds out the box of condoms and he replies glibly:

DOUG: Not now dear – I'm tidying my sock drawer!

Pam, however, explains grimly that she found them in Cody's schoolbag. Doug takes the box and looks at Pam in disbelief.

No. 28A short time later, Pam is warning Doug to listen to Cody first and not go jumping to conclusions. At that moment, Cody comes back in and Pam tells her to sit down. She then holds up the box of condoms. Cody snaps in horror:

CODY: You went through my bag? That is an invasion of privacy.

Doug tells her to just tell them why she's got them. Cody shrugs that she got them from school, from Personal Development classes. Doug comments that he doesn't think they hand out condoms in those classes. Cody then admits that Debbie Langford kind of dared her to steal them. Pam sighs that she always hoped Cody felt she could be *honest* with them about these things. Cody insists that she *is* being honest. Doug tells his daughter that he's not blaming her completely; he's sure Todd has something to do with this. Cody retorts that this has nothing to do with Todd. Pam demands:

PAM: All right – then how do you explain how a packet of ten condoms now only has eight left in it?

Cody shrugs that maybe the other kids grabbed a couple while they were being passed around. Doug says he thinks it's time they got Todd round.

No. 30Dorothy is packing away shopping in the kitchen when Ryan comes in. He tells her that Mrs. Daniels was over earlier, to see how she was; he told her that his aunt had been moping around a bit… and Helen commented that it was probably because she turned down John Brice's proposal. Ryan asks his aunt why she didn't tell him. Dorothy replies bluntly that there was nothing to tell; she has no desire to get married – and she doesn't wish to discuss it further.

No. 26Jim is telling Paul that Todd has had too much freedom too soon; he should have been tougher on him from the start. Helen joins them and points out that Paul doesn't want to hear any more about Todd. She then asks her grandson how this weekend away was, but before Paul can answer, there's a knock on the door. Helen opens it to Doug, who marches in and says he needs to talk to Todd: he's got a few questions to answer. Jim asks what about, and Doug replies grimly that it seems that his and Cody's relationship is more grown- up than everyone thought. Helen asks what *that* means. Doug asks if she really wants him to spell it out. Jim snaps in annoyance that it's one thing after another with that kid. He goes off to find him, leaving Helen to comment that she wouldn't be in his shoes for anything at the moment. Doug heads back out. Paul smiles at Helen that Todd isn't a *bad* kid, really; and his father seems to forget how rebellious he and Scott were at Todd's age. Changing the subject, Helen then asks him again about his weekend at the beach. Paul shrugs:

PAUL: Bit of a flop, really. Didn't enjoy myself at all.
HELEN (surprised): Why?
PAUL: Oh, long story. But, things really started to pick up when we got back!
HELEN: Oh…?
PAUL: Well, the truth is, gran, I've had this thing for Christina for some time, and… well, she didn't show the slightest bit of interest while we were away, which is probably *why* I didn't enjoy myself; but as soon as we got home, I discovered that she feels exactly the same way about *me*.
HELEN (smiles happily): Really?
PAUL: Mm. Problem now is I'm a bit confused because, well, I don't know if we really know what we're getting ourselves into.
HELEN (frowns): Yes, it could be awkward – living and working with the twins and having a relationship with one of them.
PAUL: No, that's not what bothers me. I just don't know if I'm ready for another relationship yet.
HELEN: You mean after Isabella?
PAUL: Yes, I'm still bitter about that.

Helen points out that after all the things Christina did to *expose* Isabella, it's obvious that she cares about him. She suggests they just let their relationship develop naturally and see what happens.

No. 28Todd is at No. 28, where Doug is demanding to know where the condoms came from. Todd shrugs that maybe some idiot put them in Cody's bag, or maybe they just fell in. Cody chips in that she's already told the truth; her parents just don't believe her. Todd snaps that they don't want to *know* the truth; they just want to think the worst of their own daughter; how can they not trust her? Jim growls at Todd that he's not one to talk about trust after all the promises he's broken; if the police had charged him today, it might have taught him a lesson. Doug asks angrily if Todd has been in trouble *again*. Jim nods that he has, unfortunately. Doug tells Todd coldly that he wants him to stay away from his daughter. Jim tells Todd that he's let him down badly. Cody looks at her mum, but Pam shrugs that she and Todd have brought this on themselves.

No. 26Ryan is at No. 26 with Helen, where he tells her that Joe's given him a list of jobs that need doing while he's doing this court thing, and he's just trying to organise what days he should do them. He then says he was wondering about when Helen came over to see his Aunty Dot earlier… she mentioned his Uncle Colin, and he asks Helen if she knows anything about him. Helen just replies that he seems to be a closed book; the couple of times she's brought up the subject, Dorothy has behaved very strangely. She adds that she's more than a little intrigued as to why. Ryan admits that he didn't know Colin was still alive, let alone married.

No. 32Paul has turned up at Joe's and hands him a character reference. Joe thanks him gratefully. Paul tells him that there's work at Lassiter's for as long as he needs it. Joe reads the reference and thanks Paul sincerely.

No. 26It's evening- time. Todd sighs as he wipes up some dishes in the kitchen. There's suddenly a quiet knock at the back door and Cody comes in. Todd hugs her and she tells him sadly that her dad thinks Todd is some sort of criminal. Todd mutters that it gives him and his Uncle Jim something to agree on. He adds that he's totally innocent and his own family doesn't believe him; if he can't convince *them* that he's telling the truth, then how's he going to go in court?; he'll get sent to a youth centre. Cody hugs him and says she couldn't stand that. She then asks him if *he's* thinking what *she's* thinking. Todd says:

TODD: You mean run away?
CODY (nods): What do you reckon?

No. 30Ryan arrives home and Dorothy tells him coolly that she's put his dinner in the oven. Ryan asks her bluntly why she didn't tell him that Uncle Colin is still alive and that she's still married to him. Dorothy shrugs that she didn't know he was so interested in her personal life. She goes on that it's not really not any of his business. Ryan retorts that it's *his* family too; he's got a right to know. Dorothy sighs that it's not something she wishes to dredge up after all this time; it's been buried for twelve years and she wishes it to stay that way.

No.26It's the next morning and Jim joins Helen in the kitchen, asking her if Todd is up already. Helen replies that he's still in the bathroom, but Jim says he can't be because *he* was just in there – and he's not in his room. He shrugs that he's probably ducked off to school early – scared of another confrontation, he bets. He adds that he's going next door to look for him.

No. 28Doug is commenting to Pam that if Adam doesn't get with it soon, he won't have a job for the holidays. He then asks if Cody is up yet. Pam replies that she looked in on her a while ago but she had her head under the pillows. She goes to give her another yell, but there's suddenly a knock on the front door and she opens it to Jim. He tells her that he was looking for Todd – he thought he might have been over there against regulations. Pam heads into Cody's room, but emerges again a few seconds later, crying:

PAM: Doug – Cody's *gone*.
DOUG: What do you mean, gone?
PAM: The bed is stuffed with pillows; she's *gone*.

At that moment, Helen comes in and tells Jim that Todd's backpack his missing; she's checked his room and it's not there. Everyone looks at each other in concern.